Trans-Pyrenees Challenge

TRANS CHALLENGE

7 NIGHTS

COMFORT

Advanced Bike Tour of the Alps

LEVEL 3-4

779 KM

17,400M

Cycle across the Pyrenees from Girona to San Sebastián on this spectacular point-to-point tour. Summit 13 Pyrenean Cols, including the Tourmalet, Aubisque, Aspin, and Peyresourde.

Prepare for stunning scenery, hard climbs, spectacular descents and breathtaking days in the saddle. The Eat Sleep Cycle team will be there to support you every pedal stroke of the way.

On an Eat Sleep Cycle tour all you have to think about is enjoying your ride. Our trip support is second to none and we pride ourselves on a high staff-guest ratio. We take care of everything so you can savour the ride of a lifetime. This is a flexible itinerary offering riders the opportunity to extend or shorten the ride depending on their fitness level.

CYCLING ITINERARY

Day 1:

Arrival in Girona, optional warm up ride, 15:00.

Day 2:

Girona – Pobla la Lillet, 101 Km, 1,800 m
Col de Merolla

Day 3:

Pobla La Lillet – Sort, 154 Km, 3,100 m
Col de la Creueta, Canto

Day 4:

Sort – Bagnères-de-Luchon, 141 Km, 3,100 m
Bonaigua, Portillon (option to add Superbagneres)

Day 5:

B.Luchon – Saint-Savin, 106 Km, 3,600 m
Peyresourde, Aspin, Tourmalet

Day 6:

S.Savin – St. Jean Pied du Port, 153 Km, 3,800 m
Soulour, Aubisque, Marie Blanc, Inharpu

Day 7:

St. Jean – San Sebastián, 124 Km, 2,000 m
Izpegi, Arkiskil

Day 7:

Riders depart from San Sebastian

IS THIS TOUR FOR ME?

Yes!

Our Trans-Pyrenees challenge is designed for ‘Advanced’ riders with optional extensions for riders who want to challenge themselves further, as well as options to shorten the rides for those who need to. To best enjoy the tour riders should be comfortable riding 100 kms and able to climb for at least an hour without stopping. Training for the tour is recommended.

MAP

Map - Trans Pyrenees Challenge Cycling route

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

THE TOURMALET
THE PEYRESOURDE
THE ICONIC ‘CIRCLE OF DEATH’ TOUR DE FRANCE ROUTE
ROLLING ROADS THE BASQUE COUNTRY

TRANS CHALLENGE INFORMATION

RIDE SUPPORT

Full Support

Rides are fully supported by our team of guides and vehicles.

The ride support vehicle is stocked with natural ride nutrition, electrolytes and water. On longer days the team will serve a roadside lunch – a time efficient pit stop with the right balance of carbohydrates, protein, fruit & veg to keep you energized and feeling healthy all week.

Eat Sleep Cycle ride leaders are experienced riders from all walks of life united by a love of Cycling who’ll help to keep the group safe, motivated and savouring the trip of a lifetime. Our Tour Leaders know the region well and speak the local language.

Mechanical support will be close by at all times.

Quick Facts

THE PYRENEES STRETCHES OVER 450KM.
THE HIGHEST PEAK IS PICO DE ANETO AT 3,404M.
THE PYRENEES STRETCHES FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.

FOOD & ACCOMMODATION

Full Board

Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner and ride nutrition prepared especially for cyclists.

Start the day with a breakfast buffet at the hotel. On the road eat a time efficient lunch served by the support team and stay fueled all day with ride nutrition from the support vehicle.

Dinner is at hotels and local restaurants: taste 3 course Catalan, French, Basque and Spanish food en route*.

*Drinks at riders expense

French and Spanish Hospitality

After a hard day in the saddle we’ll rest up in beautiful locations along the route.

Hotels and guesthouses have been carefully selected so you can experience a range of guesthouses and hotels, each with their own unique features and all with high quality facilities and friendly staff.

You’ll be able to kick back, relax and enjoy a drink at the end of each day knowing you’ll be getting a good night’s sleep.

Hotels are located in: Girona, Pobla La Lillet, Sort, Bagnères du Luchon, Saint Savin, St Jean Pied du Port & San Sebastian.

BIKE HIRE

Bike Hire

Benefit from a 10% discount on any Eat Sleep Cycle bike hire as part of this package.

Choose from a Ridley, designed in cycling’s heartland of Belgium, or a state-of-the-art Factor bike. All our bikes are supplied with compact 50-34 chainsets & 11-32 cassettes.

Our Bikes

RIDLEY FENIX SL 105

Carbon Frame
Shimano 105 11-speed
Forza RC23 wheelset

RIDLEY HELIUM X

Carbon Frame
Shimano Ultegra 11-speed
Forza RC23 wheelset

RIDLEY FENIX DISC

Disc Brake Road Bike
Carbon Frame
Shimano Ultegra 11-speed
Hydraulic disc brakes
DTSwiss R24 DB wheelset.

FACTOR O2

State-of-the-art lightweight frameset
Black Inc. carbon wheels & finishing kit
Shimano Ultegra Di2

TRIP SUMMARY

Trip Dates

30th June- 7th July 2019

13th- 19th July 2019 (Full)

1st- 8th September 2019

On demand for groups

Price Per Head

€2,699*

Single Supplement €399

Travel Logistics

Travelling to Girona:
Fly to Girona or Barcelona Airport. Plan to arrive in Girona at the Eat Sleep Cycle Hub in time to ride at 15:00 on Day 1 of the tour.

Travelling from San Sebastian:
Plan your onward travel from San Sebastian. The closest international airports are Bilbao & Biarritz.

Extend your tour:
Arrive early and enjoy the Catalan cycling mecca of Girona. Stay on and soak up the culture and gastronomy in San Sebastian.

Guests are responsible for booking their own flights and travel
insurance.

What's Included?

Cycling: Fully guided and supported.
Accommodation: 3*/4* Hotels and guesthouses.
Food: Full board.
Bike Hire: Optional
Transfers: Transfers are not included in the package, but we can help to plan you travel. Tell us your flight details and we’ll do the rest!

Group Bookings

Groups of 6 or more riders: can opt to make a tour private and choose their own dates.
Groups of 8 or more riders: can benefit from a 5% discount.

Payment

Deposit: a 50% deposit will secure your place on the tour.
Balance: the outstanding balance is due 2 months in advance of the tour.

TAILOR OUR TRANS-PYRENEES CHALLENGE ITINERARY TO SUIT YOU

Choose your dates, accommodation type, tailor your ride itinerary & support.
Add a physio, gourmet food experiences and more!

Bespoke Tours

WHY EAT SLEEP CYCLE?

EXCELLENT LOCATION

Our home in Girona, Spain, gives us unique access to remarkable people and places, allowing us to create world class cycling tours.

EXPERT GUIDES

Our guides are experts in cycling, travel & hosting world class tours. We recruit professionals from all walks of life who love to ride.

5 STAR REVIEWS

You’ll be back!
98% of our guests say they’ll come back to Eat Sleep Cycle for another tour.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Ride with Eat Sleep Cycle and enjoy the best roads, landscapes & cultural experiences thanks to our knowledge.

“

Fantastic Pyrenean trip with Eat Sleep Cycle. Great, well-paced itinerary, covering all the key cols, and superb support on and off the bike – from road leaders with enough legs to embarrass all the clients (but generally resisting doing so…) to strong mechanical and logistical support, including fabulous on the road sustenance, van support and encouragement – making sure everyone strung out along each mountain climb, was regularly checked in with and looked after. Outstanding trip and I was very sorry to leave so soon – next year then!
Jef, SwindonSuperb Pyrenean Trip With ESC - Hopefully The First Of More!

“

ESC's local knowledge created a cycling trip that we won't soon forget. You just can't get this kind of attention and personalised catering from larger tour companies. I highly recommend booking your next cycling adventure with ESC. We're already looking forward to being with ESC in 2018. Chapeau, ESC!
SteveUnforgettable!

“

If your looking at this wondering whether to call Eat Sleep Cycle then I urge you to do it. The trip we had with them was superb, couldn't fault it. All the guides stuck the perfect balance of being absolutely professional but by the end of your trip, good friends, I'll be back.
Ed EPyrenees trip

TRANS-PYRENEES CHALLENGE